Device for securing tubes to tube-sheets.



No. 685,867. Patented Nov. 5, ISOL- D. A. REAGAN. DEVICE FOR SECURING TUBES T0 TUBE SHEETS.

(Application filed Ogt. 15, 1900.)

(No Model.)

WJW 5K7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DOMINIOK A. REAGAN, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- THIRD TO THOMAS K. MAHER AND PATRICK H. WALLS, OF PHILADEL- PI-IIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR SECURING TUBES TO TUBE-SHEETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 685,867, dated November 5, 1901.

Application filed Ottoher15,1900. Serialltl'o. 38,161. (No model.) V i A To ally/ham it may concern:

Be it known that I, DOMINICK A. REAGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Altoona, in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Securing Tubes to Tube-Sheets; and I;do de clare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesazne.

My invention relates generally to steamboilers, and particularly to improvements in the means for connecting the fire-tubes with the tube-sheet. As such boilers are ordinarily constructed the tube-sheets are formed with openings for the tubes, and the latter are expanded therein to form steam -tight joints, and the exposed ends of the tubes are headed or beaded over the edges of the openings. In this form of connection the end of the tube is exposed to the direct action of the flame in the fire-box, and the portion of the tube thus exposed, as well as that portion 2-5 thereof lying in the opening, not being in contact with the water is highly heated and is rapidly burned out.

The main object of my invention is ioprevent the rapid burning out of the ends of the tubes, and this I accomplish by providing what I term a tube-splice on the water side of the tube-sheetto which the tubes are secured, so that the tube ends are brought close to the Water.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section through a portion of a tubesheet and tube; and Figs. 2, 3, and 4; are similar views of similar parts, showing different forms of my invention.

4b Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout all the views.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a portion of a tube-sheet, which is formed with the opening a, through which the gases from the fire-box enter the tube B. Surrounding each of the openings at and projecting from the water side of the tube-sheet are the cylindrical tube-splices C, which, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, are preferably formed intogral with the tubesheet and of thesame thick- 5e ness, but they may be of less thickness, ifdes sired, and of a size adapted to receive the ends of the tubes B therein.

WVhile it is preferred to form the tubesplice integral with the tube-sheet, such construction .is not essential, as it may be secured thereto in any suitable manner, and all that is required is that it be secured firmly and rigidly to the tube-sheet, and this may be accomplished in various ways-as, for instance, by forming the tube-splice as a separate tube, with external screw-threads b thereon, and screwing it into the openings a, which are made of greater diameter than ordinarily and formed with screw-threads, as shown in Fig. 4..

The tube-splice supports the fire-tube and serves to connect it with the tube-sheet. The tube may be secured in the tube-splice in any desired manner, and in Fig. l I show it expanded in the splice, the opening through which is partly tapered, as at 0 the larger end of the tapered portion being on the fire side of the tube-sheet.

The end of the fire tube is expanded, so as to bear on said tapered portion, andforms a steam-tight joint. The fire-tube should be so located in this and in the other forms of the device that it does not extend beyond said plane; but the end may be located farther within the boiler, it 8o found desirable.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the opening through the tube-splice is formed cylindrical and of the same diameter throughout its length and of less diameter than the opening a of the tubesheet, thereby providing an offset (1, over which the end of the tube is headed, as at c, after having been expanded within the tubesplice.

In Fig. 4 I show the tube-splice formed 0 with an annular odset f, within which the tube is expanded and over the edge of which it is headed.

In Fig. l the tube-splice opening is shown with a straight portion a of greater diameter than the tube, so as to provide a space around the tube, which terminates in a groove 0 into which sediment of a calcareous nature finds its way from the water in the boiler and is collected and hardens to form a tight joint. \Vhile the groove 0 provides better for the retention of the sediment, its employment is not absolutely necessary, as the space surrounding the tube may be left plain or ungrooved, as shown in Fig. 4, and good results obtained in the matter of collecting the sediment'.

The opening a, as shown in Fig. 3, at a may be made flaring, if desired.

It will be readily seen that the tube-splice adds to the strength of the tube-sheet and that by its use the extension of the tubes into the fire-box, as is usual, is avoided, and since the portion of the tube-splice which surrounds the fire-tube is in contact with the water in the boiler the inclosed portion of the firetube is kept cooler and burning is avoided. The operation of expanding the tube in the tube-splice causes the latter to yield somewhat, and as this operation is performed while the parts are cold they will adjust themselves to expansion and contraction, due to the changes in temperature.

While my invention is especially intended for use in, tubular cylindrical boilers, it also may be applied to any boiler in which the tubes or fines extend into the water-space.

Having thus described my invention, what;

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a boiler, the combination of a tubesheet, a tubular tube-splice connected to the tube-sheet and projecting into the water-space of the boiler, an annular offset formed Within said tubular tube-splice, anda fire-tube having its end expanded in and upset against said oifset.

2. In a boiler, the combination of a tubesheet, tubular tube-splices connected to said sheet and projecting into the water-space of the boiler, fire-tubes secured to said tubular tube-splices and forming therewith a receptacle for the collection of sediment from the water in the boiler.

3. In a boiler, the combination of a tubesheet, a tubular tube-splice having a groove therein for the reception of sediment from the water in the boiler, said tube-splice being connected to the tube-sheet and extending into the water-space of the boiler, and a firetube secured to said tube-splice.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DOMINICK A. REAGAN.

\Vitnesses:

W. D. COUCH, JAMES MORGAN. 

